Effects of Glutamine on the Mucosal Structure and Immune Cells in the Intestines of Broiler Chickens Challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of glutamine (Gln) on the intestinal mucosal structure and immune cells of broilers infected with Salmonella Enteritidis. 160 1-d-old commercial Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were randomly selected to receive one of four treatments, each of which had 5 replicates. Each replicate consisted of 8 chicks subjected to a 21-d feeding trial. Group I served as the unchallenged (CON). All birds in groups II (SCC) -IV were challenged with 2.0 × 10 4 CFU/mL of S. Enteritidis. The birds in groups III and IV were treated with 0.5% and 1.0% Gln. The results showed that S. Enteritidis infection led to a decrease in the relative length and weight, villus height:crypt depth (VH:CD) of the jejunum and ileum, the number of intraepithelial lymphocyte cells, and number of goblet cells and an increase in the number of mast goblet cells compared with the measurements of these parameters in the CON group (p<0.05). In addition, the Gln groups had increased relative length and weight, VH:CD of the jejunum and ileum, numbers of intraepithelial lymphocyte cells, and numbers of goblet cells and decreased crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum and numbers of mast goblet cells compared with the measurements of these parameters in the SCC group (p<0.05). It was concluded that Gln added to broiler diets can effectively alleviate the intestinal mucosal damage caused by S. Enteritidis infection and improve its normal defense barrier function.

Chicken jejunal microbiota improves growth performance by mitigating intestinal inflammation

“…Mast cells activation involves in the pathogenesis of gut inflammation [65], and its count is remarkably raised in the chicken during intestinal inflammation [66]. A higher number of mast cells during Gram-negative infection in the chicken intestine [67] is consistent with our findings. Besides, mast cells can be activated through TLRs/NF-κB pathway and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines during intestinal inflammation [68], suggesting an essential role of mast cells in governing the intense inflammatory response in low body weight chickens.…”

Effects of Glutamine on Rumen Digestive Enzymes and the Barrier Function of the Ruminal Epithelium in Hu Lambs Fed a High-Concentrate Finishing Diet

“…These experimental results are consistent with the research of Caroprese et al (2012) [ 29 ]; their experiment showed that Gln can maintain an appropriate level of lymphocyte activation and maintain the normal function of the immune response, so it can be considered a nutrient. In addition, this may be related to the ability of Gln to increase the number of lymphocytes; part of the reason for this is that Gln can reduce the body‘s innate immune system in the inflammatory factor TNF-α, and provide energy for the ruminal epithelium’s lymphocytes and Gln immune-stimulating properties [ 16 , 33 , 34 ].…”